When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(112)

I can’t hear what he’s saying from where I’m sitting. My body stiffens in full alert as a few cops walk in behind him heading out towards the back door checking over the rooms leaving us all to what we were doing. The state troopers shuffled through the kitchen eyeing us over with disdain, none bothering to ask any questions. I keep looking to Dan trying to understand what is going on. We are all underage, clearly drunk.

God, I’m going to be in trouble.

Fuck.

“What’s going on?” I whisper to Dan running around the kitchen frantically dumping any evidence down the drain.

“I don’t know. The cop said that they received a 911 call from a young girl who was attacked at this address. I didn’t get any other information from them,” he answers slightly panicked. His hands kneed through his hair pulling at the ends in frustration. “I have to call my parents to come back from Nashville early. They are going to fucking kill me.”

“Has anyone seen Craig?” Violet jumps up from the table with panic in her eyes. She scans the rooms attached to the kitchen. When she gets back she stands in front of me with a horrified look on her face. Everyone turns to look at her with bewilderment. I don’t understand the fear until she scans her eyes around the room. I haven’t seen Craig in the past few hours either.

“When was the last time you saw Kennedy, Violet?” I ask dropping the bottles of jack into the sink. I suddenly feel sober, like the gallon of liquor in my body is suddenly gone.

“She walked out the back door when she saw you and Ms. Slut of America making out in the kitchen. I haven’t seen her since then. I thought that she had gone home, but she hasn’t been answering my texts or phone calls since I saw her run out the back door,” Violet explains. Her eyes are wide making the nonverbal connection. “Graham, what if…” She lets the thought trail off before marching out of the room again asking anyone if they had seen Kennedy or Craig.

The pit in my stomach grows to an unthinkable size as the terrifying truth sinks in. I know somehow that everything has changed. Everything is going to be different from this moment on.

I follow Violet through the kitchen out onto the back porch. We stand there scanning the backyard that’s bustling with cops and EMT’s. Lights bounce off of the siding and onto the grass. Neither of us can see anything. I take a step down into the yard.

That’s when I see her.

Kennedy’s lying on a stretcher being attended to by a young EMT. I know it’s her. I can see her long hair dangling lifeless on her shoulders.

I need to see her face.

I need to look in her eyes.

I need to see that she’s okay.

It isn’t until they roll her closer to the side yard that I get a glimpse into her nightmare. Her once perfect skin is covered in blood and dirt. There’s a wool blanket wrapped around her trying to keep her warm. She’s shaking uncontrollably.

Violet sees her at the same time I do. She screams running towards her best friend in a panic. My feet are cemented to the ground. I can’t move. I can barely breathe. My world is frozen. I watch Violet jump into the back of the ambulance with Kennedy without a thought. The doors close behind them. The last thing I see as I walk towards the house is the tail lights of the ambulance. Back in the house I find most of everyone has cleared out with the exception of a few of our closest.

Dan’s finishing up talking to the police when he turns to me.

“She’s going to be okay,” Dan tries to comfort me. I don’t even think he believes what he’s saying. I can see the wetness surrounding his eyes.

“No thanks to me,” my voice hitches. “Have you seen Craig?”

“Why is everyone looking for him?”

“He’s the one who do this.” I whisper, the words catching in my throat. “Fuck!” My arms reach out knocking over the empty bottles that litter the kitchen island. They fall to the floor with the glass breaking all around my feet.

“What do you mean?” Dan raises an eyebrow at me.

“He attacked her before. I got to her in time before anything happened. I wasn’t there tonight because I was pissed at her over something so stupid. I was mad at her for trying to protect me. She was just protecting me.” I lean my forehead against the kitchen cabinet closest to me.

Dan lets out a long breath. He goes to the pantry coming out with a broom. He sweeps up my mess tossing it all into the garbage beside me. I stand there watching him, not knowing what to do.

“That poor girl is going to need you. Get your ass to that hospital. I’ll be there as soon as my parents get back. Make sure Violet’s not alone,” Dan says with assurance. It’s typical of him. He’s a giant of a guy, but has the heart of a saint.

“She’s not going to want to see me.” I turn to look at him scared shitless of the truth.

“The fact that you believe that just shows how fucking stupid you really are. Now go,” he pats me on the back shoving me towards the front door.

I know I can’t drive. I have been drinking too much. It doesn’t matter how sober I think I am after seeing her. Driving isn’t an option. I call a cab standing outside waiting for it to show. Time stands still as I wait. After standing out front for almost ten minutes the yellow cab finally shows up.

“I need to get to Vanderbilt Hospital and quick,” I asked the driver as I jump in the back seat.